11 May 2012
World Group play-off venues announced
The ITF has announced three of the venues for the upcoming Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs on 14-16 September. The remaining venues will be announced in due course.
Kazakhstan v Uzbekistan
Venue: National Tennis Centre
Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
Surface: Indoor clay
Kazakhstan have played three Davis Cup ties at their National Tennis Centre in Astana and are yet to be beaten. In fact, they haven't even lost a rubber at the venue having recorded three 5-0 wins, most recently against Switzerland in 2010.
This will be a first ever meeting between these two Asian neighbours. Kazakhstan are looking to extend their two-year stay in the World Group, while Uzbekistan are bidding to reach the top division for the first time.
Germany v Australia
Venue: To be announced on 21 May
Germany and Australia have played each other six times but surprisingly - given that both teams have spent long periods in the World Group - they have only met twice since 1938. Overall, the Aussies lead 4-2 in their series.
Japan v Israel
Venue: Ariake Coliseum
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Surface: Outdoor hard
Japan have played four Davis Cup ties at the Ariake Coliseum and own a 3-1 record. After a 10-year gap, they made a winning return to the venue against India in last year's World Group play-offs.
The Ariake Coliseum, which has a capacity of 8,000 for this tie, was opened in 1987 and is also used as the Centre Court for the ATP and WTA events held in Tokyo.
The paths of Japan and Israel have never previously crossed in Davis Cup. Japan are bidding to retain their World Group status, while Israel are vying for promotion.
Belgium v Sweden
Venue: To be announced on 18 May
Sweden hold a 5-3 lead over Belgum in their head-to-head count, helped by winning the last four ties in their series. However, Sweden and Belgium have only met once in the last 40 years, in 1996, when the Swedes triumphed in Katrineholm.
Canada v South Africa
Venue: To be confirmed
South Africa and Canada have met just once before in Davis Cup, but that was way back in 1913 on neutral ground at Queen’s Club in London, so when the two teams were drawn against each other this time the home advantage was decided by lot.
South Africa were initially awarded choice of ground, but asked to switch and play in Canada for financial reasons. The Davis Cup Committee approved the appeal and Tennis Canada has agreed to host the tie with the venue to be announced in due course.
Brazil v Russia
Venue: Harmonia Tenis Clube
Location: Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil
Surface: Outdoor clay
Brazil played their first ever Davis Cup tie at the Harmonia Tenis Clube in April when they defeated Colombia to reach this stage. The venue was built in 1975 and will have a capacity of 6,000 temporary seats for this tie.
This is a repeat of the same stage of the competition last year in Kazan when Russia retained their World Group status by edging Brazil 3-2 in an epic tie that was decided in the fifth rubber. That was their only previous meeting.
Italy v Chile
Venue: To be announced on 21 May
This is a repeat of last year's World Group play-off tie in Santiago when Italy claimed a routine win over Chile to retain their place in Davis Cup's top division. The two nations have met five times and the Italians are yet to be defeated.
Netherlands v Switzerland
Venue: To be announced on 21 May
Netherlands and Switzerland have faced each other on seven past occasions with the Swiss leading the series 4-3. Bizarrely, playing at home has rarely proved an advantage when these two teams have met in the past and the Dutch have never actually defeated Switzerland on home soil.